Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-11-23
sHuNSED BYuIs FRIENDS.
A Mans Neighbors Think Re WAS the
Anarchists Haagman.

A Lansing Mich special says: olnce
the four Anarchists went 20 their death
inside the walls Of the Cook county jail,
in Chicago, there has been considerable
inquiry regarding the man who cut the
rope that held them between life and the
grave. Rumor has connected the work
with the names Of several parties
residing in various sections ofthe country,
hut the individual who was apparently the
most prominently identified by the Cos
siping public i'll relation to tue case Is q.
A. PendetOn, who lives near Leslie,
Mich, only a few miles from this city.
The residents of the town have been
suspectIng him for some time of beng
the man who cut the rope, and they also
have believed that he is employed IN
various cities to hang criminals. For
this reason his neighbors aud former asso-
ciates shuu him as they would leper.
That they are wrongin their suspicious the
WORTH correspondent has proved. but
the fact remains that Mr. Pend.etOn
built the scaifold on which the men were
hanged. The World correspondent
called upon him at his country home,
three miles northwest of Leslie, pleasant
II located on one of the most productive
farms in Central Michigan. Mr.. Pen
dleton is leading the life OF thrifty
agriculturist When the object OF the
visit was stated he entered freely into n
conversation relative to the matter.
For twenty-five years previous TO 1880
Mr.. Pendeton resided in Chicago, and,
with the exception Of six or eight years,
was actively engaged in contracting and
building. Five years Immediately pre-
ceding his removal to this STATE ne was
ia the employ OF the city as CHEF of The
fire department, and also had entire
supervision OF the public building and
repairing 1t was while serving IN this
latter capacity TINT he came into promI-
nence in the criminal record OF
Chicago When Sherry and Conley
we're executed in 1879 for the murder
of O'Conncu, Pendleton erected the
scaffold, which was of original design,
being put together with lag screws in
stead of the dovctail plan. When Tracy
was throtted several years later for the
killing of an officer the services OF Pen
dleton were again brought into requlsl-
ton, and the great success with which
the galows worked upon this occasion
was the subject of liberal press comment
throughout the country. In 1883 an
other execution was added to the list.
jacobson, an easily-angered character,
permitted his temper 10 get the best OF
him, and in an unguarded moment slew
an unfortunate wretch who was indebted
to him in the sum of 81. He paid the
penalty with bis life upon a gallows
built by Mr.. Pendleton.
Succeeding this event the city govern
ment passed out OF Republican control,
and in the administration that followed
Mr.. Pendlcton was among the first who
ceased 10 draw revenue from the city
Golfers. 1t was then that he concluded
to change his abode 10 his farm-home at
Leslie. When he departed from Cook
county Mr.. Pendleton thought he had
abandoned his former occupation, par
ticularly that of gallows-builder, but his
skill was again in demand III the spring
of the present year. When the three
sons of italy were hanged for numbering
a comrade Mr. PendletOn was summoned
from his retirement to provide the means
for their disposal.
The scaftold was taken apart and
placed in the Jail basement for future
use after the execution OF the three
Italians. On November llth it was
again placed in position, but by hands
other than Mr.. Pendleton's, and the
four Anarchists drew their last breath
upon it. The assertion that he cut the
rope in this last great national hanging
scene is positively denied by Pendleton,
and that he was al home and not ont OF
Leslie during the week Of the execution
is proved. However, the gentleman
ventures the remark that he knows who
did cut the cord which held four men on
the brink OF the grave, but positively re-
fuses to divIlge the name, merely yolun-
teering the information that the man Is
not resident of Michigan.